Portable lighter and the like



R. E. PETERSON 2, ,794

PORTABLE LIGHTER AND THE LIKE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 sept. 27, 1949.

Filed Sept. 12, 1944 Sept 27, 1949 R. E. PETERSON l 2,482,794

PORTABLE LIGHTER AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F10 12,4. 190 4 ze, zo w 77, ffm :c l032 2, /6\ 294 Patented Slept. 27, 1949 PORTABLE LIGHTER AND THE LIKE Robert E. Peterson, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Repetcr Products, Inc., Long Island City, N. -Y.,va corporation of New York Application September 12, 1944, Serial No. 553,701

21 Claims. (Cl. 67-7) My invention relates to portable lighters. Y'

The principal object of my invention is to provide a lighter which is -self-contained and which is capable of igniting and staying lit in strong draughts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lighter mechanism vwhich is of simple construction, comprising easily replaceable parts, including a valve so constructed as to control the volume of gas ilowing from the gas container to the burner to` provide 4a flame which will burn for l a predetermined period of. time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighter equipped with a Venturi-like carburet ing device whereby an emcient mixture of" air and fuel may o'w into the burner.

vide an ignition system for the lighter including `a set of dry cell batteries and a catalytic agent connected thereto, a switch being so associated with the valve which controls the passage of gas into the burner as to cause current to iiow from the batteries to the 'catalytic agent when the valve is opened, thereby heating the catalyst suiliciently to ignite the gases in the burner.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electricA ignition system for the lighter including one or more batteries, an induction coilV movement of a piston causes the striker to en-l gage the spark producing element, thereby igniting the gases passing through the burner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a catalyzer in the burner which may be heated by other means than an electric current passing therethrough, for igniting the gas in thefbumer while the catalyst is exposed to the flow of the gas.

A further object of my invention is to provide the lighter with several gas containers which are interchangeable whenever the gas is exhausted from the active container.

Other objects and advantages of my invention as will hereinafter more fully appear, I attain 55 2 by the construction herein shown in the drawings and described in the specification forming a part of my application. I

lReference is had to the accompanying drawdenote the similar parts.

` In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the lighter showing the construction of the outside case hous- Fig. 2 is a top view of the lighter, showing the position of the burner outlet having the cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional and partly eleval tional view of the lighter, showing the position of the inflammable gas containers in relation to the operating mechanism of the lighter, taken on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 yis4 an enlarged fragmentary and sectional view lof the gas container, showing the construction of the neck member of a gas container and the position of the filtering means therein.

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the container drain connection, showing in part the position of a puncturing needle disposed within its housing and also showing the iiltering element within the housing well.

Fig. 6`shows the relative positions of the gas fluid inlet connection in relation to the Venturilike carbureting device, showing same as a fragmentary sectional view slightly enlarged.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged fragmentary andsecf tional and partly elevationalA view of the vaive.

means,gshowing its push button connectionand its plunger in .relation to the gas conduit connection.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top view of thegvalve means showing the position of its retractable element.

Fig. 9 is a vertically sectional and partly .elevational view of the lighter, showing the gas igniting apparatus in a modified form.

Fig. 10 is a vertically sectional and partly elevational view ofthe lighter, showing the vapplication of dry cell batteries, an ignition coil and a condenser and means for igniting the gases in the burner.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary and horizontally sectional view of the valve means,` taken on the line II-H of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertically sectional view of the switch point contact elements, taken on the line l2-I2 of Fig'. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectionalfview of the cerium element 54.

lighter showing same in its modied form, wherein the dry cell batteries and a catalyst ignition means for igniting the gases in the burner member are used.

Fig. 14 is the top view of the lighter, showing the cover in position and over the burner member thereof.

Describing my invention more in detail, the lighter comprises a housing 2 (Fig. 3) having a top section 4, a middle section 6 and a bottom section 8, the bottom section 8 and top section 4 being removable so that the lighter ignlting apparatus generally indicated at I8 may be assembled, replaced, or reconditioned as is necessary or desirable.

The top section 4 at its top edge I2 is providedV Burner I6 is held in place on bracket 28 by' means of brackets 22 and has a Venturi-like carbureting device 24 extending therefrom, a conduit needle 26 being held in position in the Venturi tube by a bracket 28. Needle 26 is connected to an accumulator chamber 38 supported by a bracket 28, the upper section of the chamber being connected to a conduit 32.

Conduit 32 connects with an auxiliary pipe 34 which first extends upwardly then forms a circular ring that overlies the edge of mouth opening |4 then continues downwardly as at 36 to connect with a gas inlet pipe 38.

The upper end 40 of gas inlet pipe 88 is connected to the closed end of a cylinder 42 wherein a piston 44 is slidably positioned. One end 46 of piston 44 has connected thereto and extending therefrom a rod 48 on the free end of which a striker bar 58 is pivotally mounted. This bar in turn pivotally supports a striker 62 whose extremity is disposed adjacent the surface of a A spring 56, having one end fastened to bracket 28 and its other end pressing against the bottom of bar 58, forces the bar upwardly and accordingly holds striker 56 against the cerium element 54 during the reciprocal action of piston 44 within cylinder 42 to create a shower of sparks when the striker moves to the left.

The lower end 58 of inlet pipe 38 is connected to a valve 60 by a resilient tube 62, the center section 64 of which passes through valve 68 and has its extended end connected by a nipple 66 to a gas drain 68.

Gas drain 68 is supported by a bracket 18 secured to bracket 28 and is provided with a well '|2 (Fig. 5) wherein a lter 14 is placed. Threaded into the bottom of drain 68 is a needle 16 in the nature of a hypodermic needle, provided with a passage 18 extending downwardly through partition |8, as shown at 88 in Fig. 3. The end 82 of needle 'I5 extends through a sealing element 84 set into the neck of a gas container 86 designed to retain liquefied gas, e. g. propane, at a pressure of approximately 150 pounds.

In order to containthe reciprocal movement of piston 44 within cylinder 42 during the operation of the lighter, the cylinder is provided at its front end 88 with an inwardly extending flange 38. forming a seat for one end of a spring 82. The other end of this spring bears against surface 46 of piston 44. A bracket 84 fastened to mounting bracket 28 supports cylinderv 42 in proper operative position.

Burner I6 comprises a casing 86 which may, if so desired, be cylindrical in shape, the upper section 88 of the burner being positioned at the mouth opening I4 of housing 2 below the ring formed by the auxiliary pipe 34, a passage |88 into the burner being provided as Shown in Figs. 3 and 9.

This'passage |88 receives a tubular extension member |82, which extends outwardly of casing 86 and over the edge section of cerlum element 54, thus to direct the sparks from the cerium element into casing 36 ofthe burner when striker 52 is operated.

Also,.casing 36 is provided with a shoulder |84 and a supporting edge |86 for supporting a burner jet |88 in proper operative position, slightly below spark passage |88 and above the discharge end ||8 of carbureting device 24.

It may be noted that conduit needle 26 is disposed within the throat section ||2 of the Venturi tube. Carbureting device 24 has a slightly enlarged intake` opening ||4 to provide free passage of air into the mixing chamber for mixture with the fuel, thus to provide a readily combustible mixture during the operation of the lighter.

It may also be noted that the burner jet |88 has a gas and air mixing chamber ||6. having a central outlet ||8 and also a plurality of gas passages |28 which together accommodate the flow of gases passing through the jet. This particularl construction of the burner and carbureting device 24 advantageously maintains the gas flame produced at proper intensity with the result that the flame is not extinguished by strong draughts directed into the mouth opening |4 of the burner.

In order to regulate passage of high pressure fuel through valve 68, resilient section 64 of tubing 62 is held and maintained between a pair of clamping members |24 and |26 (Eg. 7). These 'clamping members comprise a yoke straddling a pin |38 suitably mounted in the body of valve 68, and are preferably integral with an extending arm |32 which is fastened to bracket 28.

Clamping member |24 is preferably held stationary while member |26 is flexible, is slightly longer and extends upwardly with its free end provided with a suitable notch |34, or the like, adapted to hold therein a trlpper bar |36.

Tripper bar |36 of valve 68 is hingedly mounted on a valve boss projection |88, being held in place thereon by a pin |48. Tripper bar |36 is provided with a downwardly extending tripper lug |42 adaptedto engage the end of clamping member |26, the end |44 of the tripper bar extending rearwardly toward va cam |46 against which the inclined end |48 of the tripper bar is adapted to engage. To hold the trlpper bar in proper operative position, a hold-down spring |58 is so fastened to bracket 28 as to press downwardly on the tripper bar.

The tripper bar is held in position by a boss or plunger 52 slidably mounted within a socket |54 formed in the body of valve 6l between clamping member |26 and a leaf spring |58 fastened to the valve body. A manually operable valve button |56 is slidably carried by housing 4 on the other side of spring |58 for operating plunger |52 and accordingly tripper bar |36 when pressed inwardly of the housing.

Gas container 86 comprises an elongated cartridge |60 sealed at its bottom 62 and having at its top section |64 (Fig. 4) a neck |66 which protrudes into the cartridge. The bottom of neck |66 is in the form of a passage |68 having an inwardly bent edge |10.

Thevtop` edge section |12 of the neck |66 is flared downwardly, as shown, to hold in sealing engagement a flanged enclosing cap |14. This cap has a downwardly bent frusto-conical section |16 provided with a needle passage |18 which fore it passes into needle opening 18, particularly when container 86 is in any other but upright position. x

In order to prevent other solid matter from falling into or being deposited within casing 96 of burner 6, grid |88 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided at mouth section I4 within the passage formed by ring |90 of auxiliary pipe or tubing 34.

In operation, when valve 60 is opened by pressing button |56, a quantity of iniiammable gas is released into tubing 38. Only a predetermined quantity of gas is released, however, becausefat the end of the valve stroke, tripper |36 is raised by cam |46, thus releasing the end |34 of clamping member |26 which accordingly reengages tube 64, thus closing the tube to interrupt the iiow of gas therethrough.

In this manner a measured quantity of gas is released which ows through pipe 38 into tubes 36 and 40.

From tube 40 the gas passes into cylinder 42 K causing the piston 44 to move rapidly to the left. Because of the upward pressure imposed upon rod 50 by spring 56, striker 52 is caused to engage frictionally with the surface of cerium member $4. The sparks thereby produced are directed into passage |00 and thence into burner I6. i

At the same time, gas passing through tube 36 .liows into and through the ring |90 and thence :nto tube 34 and well 30. From well 30 the gas ows through conduit 26 and from this conduit, sogether with a quantity of air, into carbureting device 24, nally passing through jet |08 into the 1 top section of burner I6 where it is ignited by sparks produced by striker 52, as hereinbefore described.

The ignited gases cause ring |90 to become heated, causing an expansion of the gases therein. In addition, the gas which at iirst owed into cylinder 42 is forced therefrom as the piston retracts under the bias of spring 92 into lpipe 36 and thence 'into ring |90. By restricting the passage into gas conduit 36 only a limited quantity of gas can pass therethrough; hence only a limited amount of gas is burned within burner I6 wherein it will normally burn for three to four seconds. Repeated actuations of valve 60 of course permit release of additional gas from container 86 if a longer burning period is desired.

When gas is exhausted from the active containy er 86 bottom section 8 ofhousing 2 may be removed to permit the exhausted container to be removed. The exhausted container may then be readily replaced by either one of the auxiliary containers |92 or f' |84 by forcing such auxiliary container upwardly until needle 16 punctures and extends through sealing member 84. as def scribed hereinbefore.

It will also be noted that needle 16 may, if so desired, be longer, as shown in Figure 10, in which case filter |86 may be omitted. I have found that the iilter 14 when placed and maintained kiied form, particularly with respect to the valve 200k and actuating mechanism 202 which produces the spark by which the gases in burner I6 are ignited.

Valve 200 comprises a housing 204, having a suitable holder 206 adapted to hold a section of the resilient gas tube 64 in place, holder 206 being mounted upon mounting bracket 20 as shown.

In holder 206 a suitable passage 208 is provided for a ball or roller shaped restrictor 2|0 which is adapted to bear against and compress resilient tubing 64 for restricting the gas passage therethrough.

Restrictor 2|0 is held in place suitable resilient plug 2 |2 through which an extension rod 2|4 protrudes. The end of this rod is pivotally connected to a pivoted lever 2 6 which is mounted on a suitable pin, as shown, and whichk has a hook 2I8 on the end thereof for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

In close proximity to lever 2|6, a tripping wheelf 220 is mounted Aon a center pin 222, wheel 220 being provided with a tripping pin 224 at one side thereof. On the diammetrically opposite side of the wheel a connecting lever 226 is pivotally mounted and is connected to a striker actuating lever 228 mounted on a pivot pin 230. The lower end of lever 228 has fastened thereto one end of a retractable spring 232, the other end of which is connected to a spring hook 234. The upper end of lever 228 is provided with a yoke 236 adapted to embrace a pin fastened to a striker bar 238.

Striker bar 238 is slidably mounted within a frame 240 which is held in its position on bracket 20 by means of a set of screws, the front section of bar 238 being provided with a striker 242 which is pivotally mounted on a spring bar 244 fastened to bar 238. Bar 244, being resilient, holds the upwardly extending point of striker 242 against the surface of cerium member 54, thereby holding the striker in its operative position during the operation of the spark producing apparatus.

In order to actuate the spark producing apparatus, a iinger piece 246 is provided, the ringer piece being pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 248, and having a stop 250 on its upper end 252. A spring 254 biases theilnger piece toward it's rest or broken line position.

Finger piece 246 has pivotally connected thereto a cross lever 256 which has formed therein a catch groove 258 adapted to engage tripping pin' 224. The extended end 260 of lever 256 normally engages under hook 2|8 of lever 2|6. When lever 2|6 is moved to the limit of its counterclockwise movement by inward movement of finger piece 246, its lever 256 has been moved inwardly a sufoient amount for its catch groove 258 to have overriddeny pin 224. Thereupon lever 228 beby means of a comes free and is pulled back by means of spring 232. This causes striker end 242 to engage the surface of cerium member 64, thereby providing a stream of sparks which are directed into passage and burner I6.

In order to prevent any foreign matter from entering and accumulating in -burner I6, a. lid or cover 262 is slidably mounted beneath the top section 4 of housing 2 below mouth I4.

This slidable cover 262 has an opening 264 and an extension end 266, provided with an eyelet or pivoting connection 268, to which is connected a yoke 210, formed on the end of a lid lever 212. Lever 212 is pivoted on a pivot pin 214 secured to mounting bracket 20.

One end 216 of an extension rod 218 is pivotally connected to lever 212 adjacent its pivot 214, the other end 280 of the rod being attached to the end 260 of cross lever 256. Thus when the linger piece 246 is pressed counterclockwise, causing lever 228 to actuate the spark-producing members 242 and 54, opening 264 of cover 262 is moved into a position over the mouth of burner I6 to permit passage of the ignited gas therefrom. When nger piece 246 is released, its spring 254 rocks it clockwise, and through the connection afforded by levers 256, 218 and 212, moves cover 262 to its closed position, thus closing the burner passage and mouth I4.

To provide a secondary closure for the burner opening'and mouth I4, top section 4 of housing case 2 is provided with a manually actuated lid 282 as shown in Figure 14, pivotally mounted on top 4 as by a pin 284, and held in its closed position by a detent'on the top of housing 2.

In Figures 10, 11 and 12 is shown another form of my lighter, wherein burner I6 is provided with an insulating plug 286 adapted to support a wire 288, the end of which protrudes through jet passage II8, and the point of which is disclosed in close proximity to a set of spark conductors 290.

Hot wire 288 is connected by means of a high tension wire 292 to an induction coil 294, one side of which is connected by a lead 296 to a. condenser 298 grounded as by a lead 300. Wire 300 also electrically connects the condenser to one side 304 of the combined valve and switch 302.

Condenser 288 is also connected by means of a lead 306 to the other terminal 308 of switch 302. The two switch terminals 304 and 308, respectively, have contact points 305 and 309, insulated as at 3I0 and 3I2, respectively (Figure 12).

These contact points are angularly faced, are normally juxtaposed, as shown, and are resiliently mounted so that during the reciprocal action of valve 302, contact points 304 and 308 enage while passing one another in one direction and slide over each other and then spring back into their normal positions. Upon the return or closing action of valve 302, the opposite sides of the contact points engage and slide past one another at their insulated portions 3I0 and 3| 2, and thereafter assume their original normal positions shown.

In this manner, and during the operation of valve 302, contact points 304 and 308 make and break the electric current passing from batteries 3 I4 through induction coil 294 and condenser 298, thus to provide a hot spark between points 290 and the end of wire 288 to ignite the gases passing into and through burner I6.

Batteries`3I4 are connected by means of a lead wire 3I6 to induction coil 294, and are insulated within the case by means of a suitable insulating sleeve 320. A pressure spring 322 supports the batteries in place, and also provides a ground connection for the electric system described.

As shown in Figure 10, housing 2 is provided with a partition 324 which separates the auxiliary of the liqueiled gas contained within active container 86.

'I'he combined valve and switch 302 comprises a button section 328 which is mounted within a socket 33 0 formed in housing 2, and which has a stem 332 passing through a socket wall 334 with respect to which it is held in place by a nut 36.

Stem 332 (Figure 11) is provided with an extension 338 disposed within a guide ring 340 of a control guard 342 terminating in a ball socket 344.

Control guard 342 is circular in cross section and'is provided with a ball 346 which is permitted to roll therein at will, unless it lies at the bottom section of the guard and directly in line with a. valve ball socket 348. Socket 348 isformed at the end of a stem 350, the end of which is received and supported in position by one end of a spring 352, the other end ofthe spring being supported by a boss formed in one side of bracket 20.

Stem 350 is provided at one of its sides with an extension which forms a resilient mount for contact point 305, the opposite side of the stem having extending therefrom a valve rod 354. This rod passes into and through a resilient packing and fulcrum member 356 mounted within a valve housing 358, the rod terminating in a rod end 360 upon which a valve ball 362 is loosely mounted. The surface of ball 362 normally closes the outlet passage 364 of the gas tube connection 366 which leads into tube ring I (Figure 10) of the lighter. Y

The gas inlet connection 66 (Figure 11) connects with valve housing 358, wherein the gas pressure forces ball 362 against the gas outlet passage 364. Thus when button 328 is pressed and while ball 362 is in its engaging Position within guard 342 in line with ball sockets 344 and 348, the pressure imposed on stem 358 causes contact points 304 and 308 to slide into contact position to complete the circuit to electrode 288.

In pressing valve 302, stem 350 is moved backwardly compressing spring 352. The positional change of stem 356 causes rod extension 354 to pivot within resilient packing 356 to cause floating ball 362 to lift off the ball seat which comprises the end of outlet passage 364. When finger piece 328 is released, spring 352 forces stem 350 into its normal position, thus pivoting extension 354 clockwise to reseat ball 362 and close oi outlet passage 364.

When ball 362 is thus raised, to open passage 364, gaseous fluid is allowed to pass from inlet tube 66 into valve housing 358 and then pass into outlet passage 364 through which it ows to jet I 08 of burner I6 for ignition.

In Figure 13, which is a slightmodiflcation of the structure shown in Figure 10, any suitable construction of valve 362 may be used, having, however, a set of contact points304 and 308, as heretofore described.

In this assembly, however, a set of dry cell batteries 3I4 are used, electrically engaging a contact plate 368 from which extends a lead wire 310 connecting the batteries to a switch terminal 312 connected to contact member '308.

Within burner i6 is a platinum or palladium catalyst 31| which may be mounted therein in any manner most desirable in practice. vOne side of catalyst 314 is grounded, while its other side is connected by a lead 316 to contact member 304. Thus when contact members 304 and 308 of switch 302 are relatively moved, as described, a circuit through the catalyst is completed, and the catalyst is heated suiliciently to ignite the gases vpassing through burner I6.

It may now be seen that the lighter herein described and in either form or construction may be used not only for providing a light for cigarettes and cigars but it also may be used for pipe lighting or for providing a torch flame for any other purpose.

While I have thus described my invention with great particularity, it will be clear that the same may be modified throughout a wide range. I accordingly do not propose to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown on the drawings and described in the specification, but reserve the rights in practice to make the necessary changes and modifications therein which may come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a, portable lighter, the combination of, a casing, a partition in said casing forming a pair of compartments therein, a cartridge of low boiling liquid fuel in one of said compartments, a valve, means connecting said cartridge and said valve for the iiow of fuel from one to the other, a Venturi device including a fuel .inlet and an air inlet, means connecting said valve with the fuel inlet for the iiow of fuel from said valve to -said venturi whereby when said valve is'open to permit the passage of high pressure gaseous fuel said Venturi device draws air through said air inlet for combining with gaseous fuel drawn in through said fuel inlet, a mixing chamber connected to said Venturi device to receive therefrom and mix the fuel and air, a burner chamber in said casing located adjacent an opening therein and connected to said mixing chamber to receive therefrom and burn the air-fuel mixture, means operatively associated with said burner chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture iiowing thereto, a manually operable finger piece mounted in said casing, and means connecting said nger piece to said'valve and to said igniting means for opening said valve and effecting the operation of said igniting means when said linger piece is ope erated.

2. A lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein the axes of said Venturi device and said mixing chamber are angularly related so that a turbulent condition of the air-fuel mixture flowing into said mixing chamber is created therein.

3. In a portable lighter, the combination of, a casing, and in said casing: a valve, a first fuel passageway connected to said valve, a carbureting device including a fuel inlet and an air inlet, a second fuel passageway connecting said valve with said fuel inlet, means to open said valve so that pressure uid may flow through said fuel passageways and said carbureting device may draw air from' said airlinlet, a mixing chamber y connected to said carbureting device to receive e therefrom and mix the fuel and air, a burner chamber in said casing located adjacent an opening therein and connected to said mixing chamber to receive therefrom and burn the air-fuel,

mixture, and an air-fuelv igniting assembly mounted in said casing and including a member in igniting relation to said burner chamber, said l0 assembly including: a manually operable linger piece having a portion acceasibleexteriorly of said casing and actuation transmitting mecha-l nism operatively associated with said finger piece, with said valve opening means, and with 'said igniting assembly, whereby when said -nger bination of, a receptacle for a low boiling liquefied fuel which is maintained in its liquid form by reason of its own vapor pressure, said receptacle including an outlet fitting, a resilient sealing element in said fitting, fuel igniting and burning mechanism detachably associated with said receptacle, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said fuel burning mechanism, said conduit having at one end a hollow needle-like member adapted to be forced through said sealing element without materially damaging or displacing it from said fitting when said receptacle and said fuel igniting and burning mechanism are attached, a valve structure operatively associated with said conduit and being normally closed to preclude the ow of gaseous fuel therethrough but openable to permit flow therethrough, said fuel burning mechanism including a burner chamber, a carbureting assembly at the other end of said conduit for ejecting an air-fuel mixture into said burner chamber, and a manually operable transmission system for opening said valve and effecting operation of said fuel igniting mechanism to ignite the air-fuel mixture flowing into said burner chamber.

6. In a portable torch or the like, the combination of, a receptacle for a lowvboiling lique- A fled fuel which is maintained in its liquid form by reason of its own vapor pressure, said receptacle including an outlet fitting, a resilient sealing element in said fitting, igniting and burning mechanism detachably associated with said receptacle. a conduit connecting said receptacle and said fuel burning mechanism,- said conduit having at one end a hollow needle-like member adapted to pierce and extend through said sealing element without materially damaging or displacing it from said-fitting when said receptacle and said fuel igniting and burning mechanism are attached, a valve structure operatively associatedj with said conduit and being normally closed to preclude the now of gaseous fuel there, through but openable to permit now therethrough, said valvel structure including a length of resilient tubing which forms apart ofzsaid conduit anda clamping element which is biased normally to. pinch saidtubing closed, said fuel burning mixing and burner chambers, said igniting mechsaid passageway.

8. A device asdescribed in claim 6 wherein A the clampingelement which forms part of the valve comprises a plunger-like member, and the means by which the plunger-like member is biased against the resilient tubing to hold the tubing closed'comprises a resilient elementdn constant engagement with said plunger-like member as constantly to exert its bias on said plunger-like member to force said member toward its closed position.

9. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said igniting mechanism'includes a movable member adapted upon movement to engage a stationary element to produce a shower of sparks.

10. A device as dened in claim 3, wherein said igniting mechanism includes a movable member 4adapted upon movement to engage a stationary element to produce a shower of sparks, means connected to said movable member and responsive to the pressure of the gas when said valve is opened for moving said member, and conduit means connected to said valve and said fuel inlet connecting conduit and leading to said responsive means for actuating said responsive means when said valve is opened.

11 A device as defined in claim 3 wherein a movable closure for said casing opening is provided, and means connected to said closure and to said linger piece to open said closure when said nger piece is operated.

12. In a portable lighter, the combination of, a casing, a partition in said casing forming a pair of compartments therein, a cartridge of low boiling liquid fuel in one of said compartments, a valve, means connecting said cartridge and said valve for the flow of fuel from one to the other, a Venturi device including a fuel inlet and an air inlet, means connecting said valve with the fuel inlet for the iiow of fuel from said valve to said Venturi whereby when said valve is open to permit the passage oi' high pressure gaseous fuel said Venturi device draws air through said air inlet for combining with gaseous fuel drawn in through said fuel inlet, a mixing chamber connected to said Venturi device to receive therefrom and mix the fuel and air, a burner chamber in said casing located adjacent an opening therein and connected to said mixing chamber to receive therefrom and burn the air-fuel mixture, means operatively associated with said burner chamber for'igniting the air-fuel mixture flowing thereto, a manually operable finger piece mounted in said casing, means connecting said nger piece to said valve and to said igniting means for opening said valve and effecting the operation of said igniting means when said finger piece is operated, and means to preclude opening of said valve upon operation of said linger piece unless said lighter is in a substantially upright position;

13. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the conduit which connects the valve with said fuel inlet includes a portion positioned adjacent said burner chamber whereby the gas flowing through said conduit is preheated before flowing into said fuelnlet. l

14. In a. portable lighten the combination of, a casing, a partition in said casing forming a pair of compartments therein, a cartridge of low boiling liquid fuel in one of said compartments, a valve, means connecting said cartridge and said valve for the flow of fuel from one to the other, a Venturi device including a fuel inlet and an air inlet, means connecting said valve with the fuel inlet for the flow of fuel from said valve to said Venturi whereby when said valve is open to permit the passage of high pressure gaseous fuel said Venturi-device draws air through said air inlet for combining with gaseous fuel drawn in through said fuel inlet, a mixing chamber connected to said Venturi device to receive therefrom and mix the fuel and air, a burner chamber in said casing located adjacent an opening therein and connected to said mixing chamber to receive therefrom and burn the air-fuel mixture, means operatively associated with said burner chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture flowing thereto, a manually operable linger piece mounted in said casing, means connecting said finger piece to said valve and to said igniting means for opening said valve and effecting the operation of said igniting means when said linger piece is operated, and a movable closure for said casing opening.

15. In a portable t'orch or the like, the combination of, a casing adapted to receive a receptacle for a low boiling liquefied fuel which is maintained-in its liquid form by reason of its own vapor pressure, igniting and burning mechanism in said casing. a conduit adapted to connect said fuel burning mechanism with a receptacle when the receptacle is mounted in the casing, said conduit having at one end a coupling member adapted to make communication between said conduit and such receptacle when such receptacle and said fuel igniting and burning mechanism are assembled in said casing, a valve structure operatively associated with said conduit and being normally closed to preclude the flow of gaseous fuel therethrough but openable to permit fiow therethrough, said valve structure including a. length of resilient tubing which forms a part of said conduit and a clamping element which is biased normally to pinchsaid tubing closed, said fuel burning mechanism including a burner chamber, a carbureting device at the other end of said conduit arranged to inJect an air-fuel mixture into said burner chamber, and a manually operable transmission system for opening said valve and effecting operation of said fuel igniting mechanism to ignite the air-fuel mixture iiowing into said burner chamber.

16. In a portable torch or the like, the combination of, a receptacle for a low boiling liquefied fuel which is maintained in its liquid form by reason of its own vapor pressure, means forming a combustion chamber detachably associated with said receptacle, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said combustion chamber, said conduit having at one end a coupling member adapted to make communication between said conduit and said receptacle when said receptacle and said combustion chamber are assembled, a valve structure operatively associated with said conduit and beingl normally closed to preclude the iiow of gaseous fuel therethrough but openable to permit ow therethrough, said valve structure including a flexible member having an opening therethrough which forms a part of said conduit, and a closing element which is biased normally to close said opening, a carbureting device at the other end of said conduit arranged to inject an air-fuel mixture into said combustion chamber, and a manually operable transmission system for openingsaid valve.

1'7. A low-boiling-point fuel-burning apparatus of the character described including: a relatively high tensile strength container adapted to hold a quantity of low-boiling-point liquefied fuel 13 under its own vapor pressure; a fuelpassagewaycommunicating at one end with said container; a normally closed valve'associated with said passageway blocking the flow of fuel therethrough;

va valve opening mechanismassociated with said 5 valve, whereby the valve may be opened to permit fuel to flowv therethrough and through said passageway; a carbureting device in communication with said passageway at its other end; an air supply communicating with said carbureting device; l0

a mixing chamber on the discharge side of `said carbureting device; a burner chamber communieating' with said mixing chamber; an igniting mechanism operatively associated with said burner chamber, whereby the air-fuel mixture within the burner chamber may be ignited;l an v exteriorly accessible inger piece; and a trans- 'mission system extending from said nger piece to said igniting and valve opening mechanisms,

whereby said finger piece is enabled to open said l2() Valve and ignite the air-fuel mixture. v

18. In a portable lighter, the combination4 of, a casing, a compartment containing a low boil# ing liquid fuel in said casing, a valve, a rst fuel passageway connecting said fuell compartment and said valve, a carbureting device including a fuel inlet and an air inlet, a second fuel passageway connecting said valve with said fuel inlet whereby when saidvalve is open pressure iuid flows through said fuel passageways and said carbureting device draws air from said air inlet, a mixing chamber connected to said carbureting device to receive therefrom and mix the fueland air, a burner chamber in said casing located adj a cent an opening therein andconnected to said 35 mixing chamber to receive therefrom and burn the air-fuel mixture, and an air-fuel igniting assembly mounted in said casing and including-v a member in igniting relation to said burner chamber, said assembly including: amanually 853,002

. 14 opera-ble finger piece having a portion accessible exteriorly of said casing and actuation transmitting mechanism connecting said finger piece to said valve and to said igniting assembly, wherevby vwhen said finger piece is operated said valve is opened and said igniting assembly is operated, saidignitingassembly comprising a circuit includ- 'ing' as components va battery, a switch and said member.

g 19. A device as ,defined in claim 18, wherein said battery is releasably mounted in said casing, said circuit also including as components a condenser and an induction coil.

20. A device as' defined in claim 18, wherein vsaid battery is detachably mounted Within said casing and said member comprises a resistance,

said resistance and said switch being connected in series so that said resistance is energized when said switch is closed upon operation of said nger piece.

21. A device as dened in claim 3, wherein said fuel inlet and said air inlet are coaxial.

- ROBERT E. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arev of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

